Markets & Finance

Canada Shares Fall at Close

April 04, 2002

Canada's benchmark TSE 300 reversed direction and closed with a 2.6 point loss to 7,782.00 Weak technical posture and bearish revresal in the Nasdaq were weights. On the week, the TSE 300 is down 70 points (0.9%).

Europe markets ended mixed. In London, the FTSE 100 index was up 24.10 points, or 0.46%, at 5,233.60 following an OECD report that said UK leading economic indicators improved in February. Another report showed that UK full time job placements increased in March.

In Paris, the CAC 40 index was off 22.61 points, or 0.50%, at 4,515.70.

In Frankfurt, the DAX index was up 5.58 points, or 0.11%, to 5,260.53 after factory orders unexpectedly fell 1.0% in February. The OECD report said German leading indicators fell in February.

Asian markets closed with losses. In Tokyo, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed off 43.71 points, or 0.38%, at 11,335.49 pressured by shares of exporters on weak US economic data and the strong yen, plus losses in the NTT companies after downward revisions to earnings forecasts.

Hong Kong's stock market was closed on Friday in observance of the Ching Ming Festival.